Cincinnati - The Cincinnati Reds are showing the Milwaukee Brewers the difference between first place and fourth place in the National League Central Division.

The Reds pitch better, come up with more clutch hits and play the best defense in the league. And they know how to protect leads and close out games.

Bolting to a four-run lead in the first inning off Yovani Gallardo, the Reds claimed a 6-2 victory Saturday night over the Brewers at Great American Ball Park. It was the second consecutive victory for Cincinnati, keeping the Reds a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh in the division.

The defeat guaranteed the Brewers would not claim their fourth consecutive series, dropping them 9 ½ games behind the Reds, their biggest deficit of the season. The Brewers knew what was at stake in this series - the difference between contending and possibly going into reboot mode - but have been helpless to do anything about it.

"Every loss from here on out, even (Friday's), is a big blow in the situation we're in," said Gallardo. "The guys are going out there and playing hard. We've just got to turn things around and have a good stretch and hopefully make a run for it.

"Every game coming here was a must-win. Unfortunately, we lost the first two. Now, (Sunday) is even a lot more. Everybody in this clubhouse knows that."

The Brewers were never able to climb out of the four-run hole they fell into in the first inning. Gallardo had allowed only four runs in his previous four starts but the Reds matched that total with their opening outburst.

After second baseman Rickie Weeks made a marvelous running, sliding catch of Drew Stubbs' pop fly into shallow right, Zack Cozart, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce rapped consecutive singles to make it 1-0. On Bruce's single to center, Carlos Gomez tried to throw out Phillips at third and the Brewers thought he did, only to have umpire Tim Timmons rule him safe.

That played loomed large because Scott Rolen followed with a towering sacrifice fly to deep left, barely missing a home run. Ryan Ludwick did not miss, launching a 3-1 fastball 437 feet to left for a two-run home run and 4-0 lead.

Had the Brewers got the out call on Phillips, it would have been a one-run inning.

"We don't get a call at third base, which I understand the guy was out," said manager Ron Roenicke. "That's two runs (actually three). But then (Gallardo) got the ball up. The home-run ball was up. Then he settled down and did a nice job of battling and keeping us in the ball game."

Gallardo obviously wanted the call at third base but said that didn't excuse making a mistake to Ludwick.

"I've still got to go out there and make pitches," he said. "I fell behind on Ludwick and I tried to go with a fastball away and it came back over the plate. It's a huge difference. If I make a pitch there and get out of it with two runs, we have a better chance."

The Brewers wasted a leadoff double by Aramis Ramirez in the second inning and appeared ready to do likewise in the fourth after Travis Ishikawa yanked a ground-rule double down the right-field line. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo struck out Ryan Braun and Ramirez on side-armed sliders, but Corey Hart put a good at-bat on him, finally punching a single through the left side to score Ishikawa.

When Ishikawa led off the sixth with his second double and moved to third on Braun's single to left, the Brewers were in position to get right back in the game against Arroyo. Ramirez followed with a sharp grounder up the middle but Cozart made a diving stab and flipped to Phillips, who turned the double play.

Ishikawa scored on the play, but a bigger outburst was averted and the Reds emerged with a 4-2 lead.

"We're not hitting into a lot of luck," said Roenicke. "Aramis smokes that ball and it's a double play. They're not going right, but the guys are up there battling. These at-bats are big at-bats, and you need some things to go right for you."

That tough luck continued with one down in the seventh when Jeff Bianchi - still looking for his first big-league hit - ripped a liner that struck reliever Jose Arredondo and caromed to first baseman Todd Frazier, who recorded the out. Pinch-hitter Cesar Izturis singled to right, prompting Baker to summon lefty Sean Marshall.

Marshall committed a balk throwing over when Izturis broke for second, moving the runner into scoring position, but Norichika Aoki flied out to left.

The Reds opened the cushion back to four runs in the bottom of the inning when Phillips crushed a hanging 1-2 curveball from reliever Jose Veras for a two-run homer.

"This was a big game; (Friday) was a big game," said Roenicke.

"We'll see what happens. We'll come out (Sunday) and hopefully get a win, then go to Philly and play well there, then go back home and see if we can get this thing together."

About Tom Haudricourt

Tom Haudricourt covers the Brewers and Major League Baseball. He was voted Wisconsin Sports Writer of Year for 2011 and 2012 by National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.